UK Property Investment Pros & Cons

News & Press August 20 2018, hermione-baycat

Property has long been seen as a lucrative investment, with many investors choosing to put their money in bricks and mortar as a long term retirement plan rather than traditional, riskier investments such as shares. Even with recent changes to tax laws in the UK, there are still good yields to be gained from investing in buy to let property. Overseas property investment is also another option for your investment portfolio, and with the effects of impending Brexit (whether that’s a soft-boiled/hard-boiled or a no deal scrambled mess), choosing a location outside of the UK could be a good decision. So, what are the pros and cons for UK property investment?

Property Investment In The UK

2018 has seen US investors flocking to the United Kingdom in their droves to add UK property to their portfolios, as well as continued high levels of investment from Asia, with over £26.9bn of investment coming from overseas to the UK so far in 2018 (as of September 2018). So, what are the pros and cons of UK property investment for our investors who reside in the UK? The UK for most people is the ideal place for investments. Below are the pros and the cons of investing in the UK.

Pros

The Capital City & Beyond

London normally takes the limelight when it comes to the United Kingdom. In fact, 90% of Asian investors choose property in London. This international appeal has seen prices continue to rise in the capital and beyond. In the next couple of years, properties are expected to rise by about 56%. London is expected to bring that average down. Over the past year, prices of houses in the Midlands have risen by an all-time high. The properties that are in the North East have appreciated by as much as £10,000 since September 2016. The cities found to the North such as Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester have been producing very high yields in the recent past. Other lucrative cities to consider are Salford where the yield inclusive of rental and capital appreciation has been at a record high of 32.3%, and Leeds. In the UK, the property market is gaining some form of balance because investors are now looking for the best yields all over the country. Other factors that investors are looking into are the market entry points as well as house price growth and this has led to spreading of investment to other cities. However, Oxford and London still remain the most expensive cities in the UK to live.

Housing Shortage

The demand for housing in the UK is becoming higher than the supply at an alarming rate. Housing listings within the country are at an all-time low. This housing crisis is also contributing to growing house prices. Would be first-time buyers are being priced out of the market, with many 18 to 34 year olds viewing renting as their only realistic option.Due to the pressure mounted on the government by different organisations, the government has vowed to build 1 million homes within the next two years. Opening up to foreign investment by the local governments will help meet the high demand. This is therefore an opportune time to invest and secure assets within the UK for both UK residents and foreign investors alike.

Northern Powerhouse

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, set up in 2016 with the objective of increasing the impact and contribution of the North of England to the UK economy, have already pushed ahead with a number of initiatives such as the High Speed 2 rail line and Square Kilometer Array. The undertaking of these projects will result in the creation of jobs as well as the spurring of economic growth. It would be a good time for individuals to take advantage of the prevailing economic conditions and invest in property.

High Speed 2 Rail

The railway line is in the UK and it links Birmingham, East Midlands and London as well as Leeds and Manchester. This will be the second railway line of its kind in the country and will cost a whopping £55.7bn. The concept of the rail line is to connect all the major cities and served by one city center station. By 2033 all the cities will have their own city center station. The network will enhance the travel between different major cities by reducing the time required to move from one place to the other. The railway line will bring continued growth as well as open new opportunities in the country. There is an anticipated growth of £3m for each region making it an essential project to the growth of the country as a whole. Many businesses are already looking to take themselves out of London (for example, HSBC announced they would move 1000 jobs to Birmingham from London). The completion date for HS2 is still not set in stone but you can take advantage of this knowledge now to make a sound investment in the North that will certainly see growth once the line is in operation.

Cons

Buy To Let Taxation

The ability to offset mortgage interest against profits is now being phased out in the UK, with the changes to be in effect in full by the end of 2020. This could potentially result in landlords paying tax on non existent profits. It is essential that you take proper financial advice from whomever deals with your taxes to ensure your investments are efficient.

Ongoing Risk and Personal Investment

Investing in property can be an ongoing financial liability. As a buy to let landlord, for example, there are issues such as property maintenance, administration and advertising between each tenant, as well as the risk of having a vacant property. These issues can be combated by taking appropriate advice, and using an agent to assist you.

All investments carry some level of risk. However, choosing a UK property investment in today’s economic climate is, on balance, a smart financial move given that many of the cons can be mitigated with the appropriate planning. Speak to one of our team who can advise you further.